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For the Week ending 17th June 2005 As we predicted last week, the fishing was excellent earlier in the week until the hot weather arrived and booted up the run-off dramatically. Week on week the flow in the Fork has doubled. By Thursday the fishing on the Lower Fork had deteriorated and the Pan and the upper Fork again was the destination of most fishermen. This week the weather is predicted to cool by mid-week so that the what is left of the run-off will be up high and will freeze overnight slowing down the flow again. In addition, this week the flows from Reudi will be boosted as the run-off peaks. As the Reservoir is nearly full it is planned to have the outflow equal the inflow so the Pan will be difficult if not impossible to fish next week end. It will also affect the Fork below Basalt. So provided the weather cools as predicted the best fishing will be on the Fork above Basalt. Check with the shop if you are coming to town to get the up-to-date report. The good thing about the water flow is that the Pan will be flushed for the first time in many years. It will be interesting to watch the natural engineering which occurs to change the watercourse. Frying Pan Current Flow: below the Dam 166 cfs. (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page) The fishing this week in the bright light was challenging. The fish were up high towards Ruedi or in the deeper holes. PMD's were coming off a little down low. The best fishing up high was midges in the morning. By midday it was baetis nymphs and then dries during the afternoon hatches. Ed reported some good days principally on nymphs in the riffles. It was however a matter of making sure he got to the correct spot so crowded was the river. Dave, contrarian as usual – the characteristic of a great guide – had great success towards town in some of his favorite haunts on stimulators.
Recommended Flies: The forecast is for clear skies and hot weather for the next 2 days. By Wednesday however, the flows will have increased in the Pan to the point where it will be unfishable. This condition will persist through to the next week. While it is fishable, there will be good midge activity in the morning. So look to see if any midges are hatching. Some of the midges mid-river are a little larger so we suggest trying #18 and smaller. Try parachute midges or adults; put an emerger dropper behind the parachute; also try small emergers; olive biot emergers, size #18 - #22 and black special emergers #18 - #22. Also try #20 and #22 RS2's both gray and sparkle patterns. If nothing much is going on at the surface, it is also worth trying a sparkle baetis and midge larva together weighted down. If the fish are moving without breaking the surface, they will be taking emergers. As the day progresses and the BWO's are in evidence, try the sparkle baetis and or the pheasant tails. When the flies are in evidence a single dry fly will work fine. Of late the #20 -#24 CDC dries are getting the best results. In the bright light try not to let your leader drift in the same line as the fly. The lighter the tippet the better. The BWO's will start to hatch mid-afternoon and continue through so be prepared to stay out for a while waiting for the hatch. If there is no surface activity try dark olive and black pheasant tails size #20 and #22; midges, size #20 and smaller both red and black lava and pupa patterns - disco midges red and black sizes #20 - #24. Keep an eye out for caddis. Try pupa patterns. There are caddis from time to time on the Pan but there has not been a great deal of activity yet. The PMD's are starting to come off so try some quill patterns mid-river. The predominant color at this point is pink. Try stimulators close to town in the pocket water. They are starting to work there. Roaring Fork Current Flow: near Emma - at Basalt 2,010 cfs. (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page). The return of the hot weather doubled the flow of the Fork by the end of the week. If you look at the graph you will see how the flow varies over a 24 hour period. For you chartists out there, the current graphs discloses a great upward trending channel. At the moment the Fork is tough, however as the week progresses check the weather and temperatures. The predicted cooler change will cause the high mountain run-off to freeze overnight and slow. So in the coming week the best fishing well depend on the cooler nights and be above Basalt. In the tough conditions, floating was the best. Wading would be difficult and not as productive. Ed knew where to go and fished until late in the evenings. He saw drakes, caddis and PMD's below Carbondale so the bugs are about and his clients caught good fish. However the flow has jumped so much that he will wait for the cooler weather.Recommended Flies: In the clearer areas use the same flies as the Pan. There are however better caddis hatches on the Fork than the Pan. Use orange stimulators sizes #10 to #16. In the slightly discolored water, use nymphs with flash or attractors like the prince – size #12 - #16. Caddis pupa patterns in the morning. The cloudier water means one can use heavier tippet so there is an advantage in such conditions. As Ed has reported drakes and PMD's lower down towards Glenwood, keep an eye out in the slower water. Colorado River We are not floating it now. Wait until run-off is done unless you have no choice. You will have to wade and find pools and sections where the flow is a little slower and the water a little clearer. The trout will try for those areas where they are less likely to be getting silt in their gills. Recommended Flies: Midges, both dries and emergers; Bead head pheasant tails #16, 18; Blue Wing Olives #18,20; Caddis, nymphs and emergers; bead head prince nymph red #12 - 16; egg patterns #10 - #18; streamers #6 and #8 and smaller. Travelogue Allen Adger, intrepid local lawyer and fisherman who regales us whith his travel stories and photos from time to time has just returned from a great red fishing experience in Lousiana and shares a photo of a 12 pounder. Allen travelled to Dulac, Louisiana, about an hour south
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